Formed 20 years ago and led by Ray McVay, the big band is all but the real McCoy for one excellent reason – it recreates the Miller sound from original scores that the great man himself arranged and worked from.

Highlight piled upon highlight at the orchestra's concert at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing, on Sunday.

The audience, predictably, was mostly of advanced years and some members were soon singing or humming along to the likes of White Cliffs of Dover and the Miller signature tune, Moonlight Serenade.

Nostalgia wasn't the only winner, though. One young birthday girl, Rosie, received a name check and will, hopefully, be inspired to take up the tenor sax after hearing guest soloist Tommy Whittle glide his way effortlessly through How High the Moon.
A
ll the Miller hits were on parade, from Chattanooga Choo Choo (sung by the Moonlight Serenaders, featuring Jan Messeder and Colin Anthony) to Tuxedo Junction, in which the trombone section went walkabout round the auditorium while repeating their familiar riff.

High-octane trumpet work distinguished a rousing version of American Patrol and audience participation was encouraged on Pennsylvania 65000.

A packed evening of well over two hours' entertainment also included a guest spot by the "mammy-daddy" showman drummer of them all, Eric Delaney – still going strong at 84.

He looked like a pixie, leaping with boyish enthusiasm from his timpani to his double-bass-drum kit and back again, barely pausing for breath.

At one stage, he protested he wasn't going to play any more – because he was "knackered" – but still managed a finale of Skin Deep in tandem with orchestra drummer Bobby Cleall, who once roadied for Buddy Rich.

There were also tributes towards the end of the concert to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, which I felt was rather over-egging the pudding and added nothing to the outstanding quality of what had gone before.

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No one, however, could complain that they didn't get their money's worth.

I fully expect the Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, in some shape or form, still to be visiting Worthing in 60 or 70 years' time, when young Rosie has become a proud grandmother.